Real Food Breakfast Champions

I wrote my cookbook three years ago based on several conversations I had with friends who expressed a desire to add more nourishing meals into their routine, but hesitated because of the time commitment they thought it would take. Each of these women truly didn’t have any extra time in their day or week to put the effort into a healthier diet. They new this. I knew this.

But I had an idea.

I figured if they would focus on just improving one meal a day in their diet, they could see a difference in their health goals and perhaps see enough results to make more changes. From talking to each of these women, I knew the meal they needed to focus on most was breakfast. They were starting their day with coffee and a quick muffin or bowl of cereal (if that), which set them up for low blood sugar and cravings for the rest of the day. So, I decided to coach them to start their day right, knowing a nourishing choice at breakfast would positively affect them all day. If they could find an hour a week, perhaps on the weekend, to do a little planning and batch cooking, they could manage to improve the quality of one third of their breakfasts!

My one girlfriend really took my advice and ran with it. She began her real food journey by adding some protein (an omelet or nutrient dense smoothie) to her morning routine, which had existed of only coffee or sometimes a sugary carb. Three years later she has achieved everyone of her health goals, including reaching her ideal body weight, overcoming some serious, reoccurring health concerns, and feeling the energy she should as a 20-something. And it all started with breakfast!

7 Real Food Breakfast Champions

We do this smoothie several times a week, mixing up what we add, but always including some good fats and egg yolks for protein. When my husband quit coffee last year, he replaced it with this smoothie, and didn’t suffer a single headache or craving. It really starts your day right. If you’re very active, or breastfeeding, or otherwise burning a lot of calories, I suggest pairing this with one of the choices below.

2. Breakfast Pizza

Take my pizza dough recipe and save a little lump out for this treat: Roll it out in a pie plate or round casserole dish, pre-bake for 10 min. at 350 degrees (you can do this the night before). The next morning, scramble 6 eggs over medium heat in a bit of butter. Spread 2-3 tablespoons sour cream over the pizza crust, and top with half the eggs. Sprinkle on 1/2 cup moxxarella cheese, add the rest of the eggs, then top with 1/2 c. cheddar cheese and some bacon or sausage if you have it. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes, or just until cheese has melted. Of course, chopped veggies and other favorite pizza toppings take this over the top!

Easier than muffins because it bakes in a cake pan. Crumbly, cravable goodness. This is such a simple meal, it’s great for beginning cooks. Put your little one’s aprons on and let them help you mix this together. Lots of simple measuring and easy stirring.

More Real Food Breakfast Inspiration:

There. I just planned your breakfast menu for a week. Dontcha love it???! If you need even more inspiration, visit my {newly updated!} recipe index page, or grab a copy of my book, which has my favoritest baked oatmeal recipe and pancake batter you make the night before in your blender! (Pancakes were never so easy!)

Also, I highly recommend my friend Beth’s new book, “The Breakfast Revolution: Recipes From Outside the Cereal Box”. It’s 85 pages with over 40 real, whole-foods breakfast recipes, and the foreword is written by Stephanie Langford of Keeper of the Home. I’m looking at the index and drooling people! Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and a bunch of new, already-real-food-ized breakfast ideas? Nom, nom, NOM!!!! (OK, one of the recipes isn’t new–that’s ’cause she features my very own baked oatmeal recipe! Now you KNOW the book is awesome sauce, right? ;)) Oh, and did I mention every one of the recipes is gluten free?

Comments

Thank goodness for morning sickness and a craving for eggs! 😉 Wendy and I share an omelet almost every morning. My husband doesn’t eat anything for breakfast, so I lacked motivation to “cook” for myself before and usually went for cereal. Motherhood is changing that. 🙂 And I think you’re absolutely right . . . there’s something about starting the day with a good breakfast that leads to better food choices for the rest of the day.